Man asks Florida deputy to smoke a joint

Anthony Rocha is accused of offering a joint to a Martin County Sheriff's deputy. (MCSO)

STUART, Fla. (WPEC) —

A homeless man from Stuart is accused of asking a sheriff's deputy to smoke a joint with him.

Anthony D. Rocha, 48, is facing a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

The Martin County Sheriff's Office said deputies responded to a call about an unwanted guest at the Publix on Federal Highway in mid November. According to investigators, an employee had asked Rocha to leave after the man went to the bathroom outside the store.

Deputies caught up with Rocha at Tropical Smoothie where they say he yelled profanity and racial slurs at people. According to the report, a deputy approached Rocha when the suspect propositioned the deputy about sharing a joint. Rocha said he had cannabis in his backpack. The deputy asked Rocha for permission to look in the backpack. Rocha responded, "yes." The deputy found a glass pipe with residue, but nothing else. The pipe later tested positive for THC.

The sheriff's office said Rocha became belligerent at the Martin County Jail, enough so that deputies had to place him in an emergency restraint chair.